Pantograph trolley



Oct. 12 1926. Y 1,602,946-

C. H- SCHAFER PANTOGRAPH TROLLEY Filed Jan. 25, 1924 I 'INVENTOR wnysszs. 60// H 56b0,?

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

A ENro F'ICE. I

CARL H. SCHAFER, on SHABPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR r0 WESTINGHOUSE i nnnornrc & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A oonronArroN or PENNSYLVANIA.

; Y PANTOGRAPH TROLLEY.

' Application filed January 25, 1924. Serial No. 688,381.

My invention relates to pantograph trolleys, more particularly to pantograph structures and actuating mechanism to facilitate raising and lowering the collector shoes thereof, relative to the overhead supply line.

It is'among the objects of my invention to provide a pantograph structure of the air-actuated or spring-actuated type which shall be adapted to raise the trolley shoes from their lowered position to their operative position in a direct and positive manner, which shall be of simple, compact, and durable mechanical construction, and which shall be provided with a plurality of rods to initiate the upward movement of the pantograph'device. i I

V In modern types of pantograph structures, the pantograph frame sometimes comes to rest on or near dead center, which makes it impossible to raise the frame with the standard actuating machanism with which they areprovided. In fact, when the frame is on dead center it will tend to reverseits action and drop downward as the actuating mechanism is energized.

My present invention is directed to means for overcoming this difiiculty comprising a plurality of arms that are secured to the operating shaft and that function to initiate the upward movementof the frame memher, which is subsequently carried upward by the air-pressure or spring pressure, as the case may be, of the actuating means.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts;

Fig. 1 is a plan view with parts broken away of a pantograph structure embodying the principles of my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the actuating mechanism.

The structure in Fig. 1 comprises a structural or composite base 1 that isadapted to be supported on a plurality of insulating pads 2, which are disposed intermediate the base 1 and the roof of an electrical vehicle, as is customary. A pair of pivot shafts 3 are mounted in parallel relation on the frame 1 to adapt them to carry an extensible pantograph structure. which comprises a plurality of substantially parallel-extending pipes or rods 4 that are suitably hinged upon the usual intercrossing pipes 5 and connected to the shafts 3 by brackets .6, The

projecting ends of the shafts 3 are provided with mounting brackets 7 for securing;' helical. springs 8, and a plurality of collector shoes 9 are mounted at the top of the pantograph in accordance with a familiarpractice. A pair of air cylinders 10 are mounted on the base in working relation with the ac tuating shaft 11. The-shaft 11 is provided with a pair of cranks (not shown), which are pivotally connected to pistons that are operatively disposed in the cylinders 1.0. A plurality of hell cranks 13 are secured on the shaft 11' and one end of each of said cranks is adapted to secure a corresponding rod 14 in position.

gach rod 14 has aportion 15 bent at right angles, that is parallel to the longitudinal the shafts .3, are secured at their opposite ends" to the respectivetbell cranks 13, the springs functioning to return the pantograph to its lowered position when the air 7 pressure in the cylinders 10 is released.

The operation of this device is briefly as follows: When in its lowered and inoperative position, the pantograph structure assumes the position shown in Fig. 2. To raise the collector shoes towards the trolley wire into their operative positions, air or other suitable fluid pressure 'issupplied to the cylinders 10 to actuate the piston members. The shafts 11 are thus caused to rotate, thereby raising the rods 14, which engage the underside of the collector shoes 9, to actuate them upwardly, and they are further raised by the normal operation of the cranks 13. The rods 14 further function to hold the pantograph frame in its operative position at all times. During the lifting of the pantograph, tension is applied to the helical springs 8.

When the air pressure in the cylinders is released, the tension of the springs will retrieve the pantograph mechanism, to lower. the same to the position shown in Fig. 2.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention that a pantograph structure and actuating mechanism constructed in accordance therewith ,will provide an efficient and compact current-collecting apparatus, which functions positively to raise and lower the collector shoes to their operative and inoperative positions, respectively.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will'flbe obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction, such as the design and -pro portions of the several cooperating parts, without departing from the principlesherein set forth.

I claim as my invention 1. A pantograph trolley structure comprising an extensible pantograph frame, spring means conneoted thereto to bias the same in one direction, fluid-pressure actuating means for said frame, and oscillatable lifting rods associated with said actuating means to initiate the movement of said structure.

2. A pantograph trolley structure com prising [an extensible pantograph frame, spring means connected thereto to bias the same in one direction, fluid-pressure actuating means for said frame, and oscil'latable mechanical means for initiating the movement of said pantograph structure from a dead center position.

8. A pantograph trolley structure comprising an extensible pantograph frame, a current collector mounted thereon, means for raising said collector to its operative position, and longitudinally projecting arms associated with said raising means and adapted to engage said collector to initiate the upward movement thereof.

4. A pantograph trolley structure comprising an extensible pantograph frame, spring means connected thereto to bias the same in one direction, fluid-pressure actuating means for said frame, and lifting rods mechanically connected to said actuating means for engaging said frame to initiate the movement of the pantograph from a dead center position.

A pantograph trolley structure comprising an extensible pantograph frame, spring means connectedthereto to bias the same'in one direction, fluid-pressure actuat ing means comprising a shaft for operating said frame, and lifting rods associated with said shaft for initiating the extension of the pantograph.

6. A pantograph trolley structure com prising an extensible pantograph frame, spring means connected thereto to bias the same in one direction, an operating shaft therefor, bell cranks mounted on the respective ends of said shaft, lifting rods connected to said cranks and operatively associated with said frame, and actuating means for said operating shaft.

7. A pantograph trolley structure comprising an extensible pantograph frame, an operating shaft therefor, cranks mounted on the respective ends of said shaft, springs associated with said structure and connected to said cranks, lifting rods adapted to engage said structure and connected to said cranks, and actuating means for said Operating shaft,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15 day of January, 1924.

CARL H. SCHAFEP. 

